Prominent US Jews At Auschwitz Vow 'Never Forget'

US House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and billionaire Stewart Rahr visit 'worst place on earth,' vow to apply lessons.

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Yoni Kempinski, Ari Yashar, 30/01/14 18:31

Eric Cantor

Reuters

This past Monday, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a number of prominent American Jews were among the visitors to the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz in Poland. Eric Cantor, US House Majority Leader, who visited the camp for the first time, called it "the worst place on earth."

"As an American Jew I feel especially obligated now to take these lessons, put them to work, try to fight for what we stand for," said Cantor, highlighting the values of tolerance and freedom, and the fight for justice.

Manhattan billionaire Stewart Rahr noted that the message of the Holocaust, in which the Nazis pursued their genocidal plans and murdered roughly 6 million Jews, must be passed on to future generations. Rahr said he wanted to instill the message of "never forget."

Cantor said that the virulent anti-Semitism that led to the Holocaust still exists, specifying the threat of an "Iranian leader committed to the destruction of Israel" bent on acquiring nuclear weapons. He pledged to fight this existential threat.

The House Majority Leader visited Israel last August where he expressed support for Israel in opposing Iran. President Shimon Peres thanked Cantor for his efforts to tighten sanctions over the Islamic regime's nuclear program, sanctions which have been greatly weakened by US President Barack Obama lately.

Rahr, founder of the American pharmaceutical company Kinray, sponsored the purchase of twelve new rapid response motorcycles for Israel's United Hatzalah emergency medical organization. The donation was unveiled on Tuesday at a special ceremony in the Aish HaTorah center in Jerusalem.